1. Solid Waste Chapter 21 16th ed

2. MSW  1.5% of total waste stream  30% of MSW is recycled or composted, 55% landfilled, 15% burned in incinerator  3M company reduced solid waste by 70%, saved 750 million  1.5% of total waste stream  30% of MSW is recycled or composted, 55% landfilled, 15% burned in incinerator  3M company reduced solid waste by 70%, saved 750 million

3. Solid Waste Problems  Plastic vs paper grocery bags  Less energy, less landfill space vs renewable resource, less danger if swallowed (cloth is best)  Disposable vs cloth diapers  Manufacuring, landfill vs cleaning effects  Tires (250 million discarded each year)  2.5 to 4 billion used tires are in US  Plastic vs paper grocery bags  Less energy, less landfill space vs renewable resource, less danger if swallowed (cloth is best)  Disposable vs cloth diapers  Manufacuring, landfill vs cleaning effects  Tires (250 million discarded each year)  2.5 to 4 billion used tires are in US

4. Ways to Reduce  Reduce use  Redsign manufacturing process  Trash taxes (Denmark)  Pay as you throw (trash bags)  Reduce use  Redsign manufacturing process  Trash taxes (Denmark)  Pay as you throw (trash bags)

5. Reuse  Denmark, Finland, and Prince Edward Island have banned beverage containers that can’t be reused

6. Recycling  Composting  Biodegradeable waste = 85% recycled in EU, 35 % in US  Turn periodically to raise temp, kill pathogens and weed seeds  Siting plants is difficult (NIMBY)  Primary (closed loop) vs secondary recycling  Composting  Biodegradeable waste = 85% recycled in EU, 35 % in US  Turn periodically to raise temp, kill pathogens and weed seeds  Siting plants is difficult (NIMBY)  Primary (closed loop) vs secondary recycling

7. Recycling (cont)  Germany: take back packaging; Taiwan: TVs computers; Netherlands: no pckg in landfill  Sell service instead of goods (Xerox)  Germany: take back packaging; Taiwan: TVs computers; Netherlands: no pckg in landfill  Sell service instead of goods (Xerox)

8. Recycling paper  High quality is available  2000, US recycled 49% of wastepaper  Chlorine used to bleach, hydrogen peroxide and ozone are replacing chlorine  Recycled from preconsumer vs post consumer waste  High quality is available  2000, US recycled 49% of wastepaper  Chlorine used to bleach, hydrogen peroxide and ozone are replacing chlorine  Recycled from preconsumer vs post consumer waste

9. Materials -recovery facilities  Large scale (480 in US)  Separate, recycle or burn (electricity)  Ash to landfill  Source seperation ( home or business) has advantages Aluminum is valuable  Large scale (480 in US)  Separate, recycle or burn (electricity)  Ash to landfill  Source seperation ( home or business) has advantages Aluminum is valuable

10. Plastics  10 % of US plastic is recycled  Difficult to recycle b/c many different, incompatible resins are used (except PET in 2 liter bottles)  10 % of US plastic is recycled  Difficult to recycle b/c many different, incompatible resins are used (except PET in 2 liter bottles)

11. Detoxifying Hazardous Waste  Bioremediation uses specialized bacteria  Phytoremediation uses plants  Plasma torch  High temp: decomposes organic molecules to atoms or simple cmpds  Bioremediation uses specialized bacteria  Phytoremediation uses plants  Plasma torch  High temp: decomposes organic molecules to atoms or simple cmpds

12. Incinerators  Temperatures up to 3,600 o F  16% of MSW is burned  170 incinerators in US  Temperatures up to 3,600 o F  16% of MSW is burned  170 incinerators in US

13. Sanitary Landfill  55% of waste in US is landfilled  Sand, clay layers around synthetic liner  Leachate is pumped from bottom, sent to water treatment plant  Except for Phila, NYC no shortage of space  Methane (anaerobic decomp) can be collected  55% of waste in US is landfilled  Sand, clay layers around synthetic liner  Leachate is pumped from bottom, sent to water treatment plant  Except for Phila, NYC no shortage of space  Methane (anaerobic decomp) can be collected

14. Disposal of Hazardous Waste  Deep-well injection: liquid pumped under pressure into porous rock  Surface impoundments: ponds, pits or lagoons. 70% have no liners  Secure hazardous waste landfill (monitored)  Above ground building  Deep-well injection: liquid pumped under pressure into porous rock  Surface impoundments: ponds, pits or lagoons. 70% have no liners  Secure hazardous waste landfill (monitored)  Above ground building

15. Exporting Hazardous Waste  Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste  1995 amended version, bans export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries  Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste  1995 amended version, bans export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries

16. Lead  Neurotoxin: nervous system impairment, lowered IQ  Phase outs: lead-based paints, 1970; leaded gasoline, 1986  Still a problem: found in TV, computer monitors; lead paint in old houses  Neurotoxin: nervous system impairment, lowered IQ  Phase outs: lead-based paints, 1970; leaded gasoline, 1986  Still a problem: found in TV, computer monitors; lead paint in old houses

17. Mercury  Neurotoxin: affects nervous system  Vaporized Hg or particulate Hg salts  Methyl mercury (food chain)  Nature --> volcanoes  Humans---> coal burning, waste burning  Carried by wind, deposited in lakes  US FDA warns:oysters, sea bass, tuna  Electrical switches, batteries, fluorescent bulb  Neurotoxin: affects nervous system  Vaporized Hg or particulate Hg salts  Methyl mercury (food chain)  Nature --> volcanoes  Humans---> coal burning, waste burning  Carried by wind, deposited in lakes  US FDA warns:oysters, sea bass, tuna  Electrical switches, batteries, fluorescent bulb

18. Chlorine  Persistent, bioaccumulates  Sources: plastics (PVC), solvents, paper bleaching, purify water  PVC prod + burning generates dioxins  Replacements: soap + water, citrus based solvents; ozone, hydrogen peroxide  Persistent, bioaccumulates  Sources: plastics (PVC), solvents, paper bleaching, purify water  PVC prod + burning generates dioxins  Replacements: soap + water, citrus based solvents; ozone, hydrogen peroxide

19. Dioxins  Family of 75 different chlorinated hydrocarbon cmpds  Low doses of dioxins can disrupt reproductive and immune systems  Family of 75 different chlorinated hydrocarbon cmpds  Low doses of dioxins can disrupt reproductive and immune systems

20. RCRA  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 1976, amended in 1984  Requires EPA to identify hazardous waste and set standards for management by states  Firms with more than 220 lbs need permit stating how waste is managed  Permit holders use “cradle to grave” system  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 1976, amended in 1984  Requires EPA to identify hazardous waste and set standards for management by states  Firms with more than 220 lbs need permit stating how waste is managed  Permit holders use “cradle to grave” system

21. Superfund Act  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 1980  National Priorities List  Polluter pays principle  Joint and several liability  1300 sites cleaned up, average $20 million per site  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 1980  National Priorities List  Polluter pays principle  Joint and several liability  1300 sites cleaned up, average $20 million per site

22. Brownfields  Abandoned industrial and commercial sites, usually contaminated (factories, gas stations, etc)  450,000-600,000 in US, 40k redeveloped  Clean up efforts are hampered by fear of liability  Congress and many states have passed laws limiting liability of lenders and developers  Abandoned industrial and commercial sites, usually contaminated (factories, gas stations, etc)  450,000-600,000 in US, 40k redeveloped  Clean up efforts are hampered by fear of liability  Congress and many states have passed laws limiting liability of lenders and developers